Why China Suspended La Liga Broadcasts After Kylian Mbappé's 'Dictator' Remark About Mao Zedong: Full Controversy Explained
Kylian Mbappé has issued an apology after a video in which he appeared to describe China’s founding leader Mao Zedong as a dictator triggered a backlash in China, costing the Real Madrid forward commercial partnerships and prompting Chinese state media to suspend broadcasts of Spanish football league matches featuring him.The controversy erupted after a clip of Mbappé discussing his favourite meme circulated on social media. His comments drew criticism from Chinese authorities, football officials and commercial partners, with demands for both the French footballer and his club, Real Madrid, to issue formal public apologies.In response, Mbappé acknowledged that his words had caused offence and expressed regret over the reaction in China.“My comment was ill-judged, and I now understand that it hurt many people in China and in Chinese communities around the world,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.“I apologize to everyone my words have upset. This was absolutely not my intention. I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry.”
What did Mbappé say about Mao Zedong?
The controversy stems from a video in which Mbappé was asked to identify his favourite meme featuring himself.The French forward replied that it was “a video someone made of a guy … I think he was a Chinese dictator”. The clip then showed an edited image placing Mbappé’s face on the body of Mao Zedong, China’s revolutionary leader and the founder of the People’s Republic of China.Football fans on social media frequently use the term ‘dictator’ jokingly to describe Mbappé, who is often portrayed in memes as overshadowing his teammates and even the clubs he represents. Images depicting him as Mao and other authoritarian leaders have also circulated online.However, the reference to Mao proved particularly sensitive in China, where the former leader continues to be revered by many despite the controversial legacy of his rule.Mao led the Communist Party through its formative years and its victory over the Nationalist Party in the civil war, before establishing the People’s Republic of China. His rule also included campaigns such as the Great Leap Forward, an industrialisation drive that contributed to a famine estimated to have killed around 30 million people.The combination of the dictator reference and the edited image prompted criticism in China, turning what appeared to be a joke about a football meme into a wider controversy.
Why has China suspended La Liga broadcasts?
The fallout extended beyond Mbappé after Chinese authorities and state media demanded an apology from the player and Real Madrid.China Media Group announced that it had suspended broadcasts of matches in La Liga and other games featuring the French star. It also removed advertisements featuring him and called on Mbappé and Real Madrid to issue apologies.The China Football Association separately said it had “lodged a stern protest” with Real Madrid and demanded a “public and formal apology” from both the player and the club. It said it firmly opposed remarks that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.The broadcast suspension puts La Liga’s commercial relationship with China under pressure, given the country’s importance as a market for the Spanish competition.La Liga responded by distancing itself from the comments, saying Mbappé had spoken in a personal capacity and did not represent the league.In a statement, it said it “deeply regrets the offense caused to Chinese fans by Mbappé’s recent comments”.The league also announced plans to introduce a communication protocol for players and clubs, while working with stakeholders in China to prevent similar incidents in the future.La Liga president Javier Tebas later said on X that he had met China’s ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, to discuss the controversy and seek a resolution.Tebas reiterated the league’s commitment to maintaining its partnerships with China, including its strategic agreement with the Chinese league through 2029 and its deals with China Media Group.“Our commitment is to keep working together so that an individual episode does not harm the important advances achieved nor affect the millions of Chinese fans who follow our competitions. China is and will continue to be a strategic partner for La Liga,” Tebas said.
Three Chinese brands end partnerships with Mbappé
The backlash has also affected Mbappé’s commercial interests in China, where his image has featured prominently in advertising campaigns, from subway stations to elevator displays.Beverage company Dongpeng, dairy giant Mengniu and cheese maker Milkground announced on Tuesday that they were ending their agreements with the footballer.The companies issued similarly worded statements opposing “any words and actions that hurt national sentiment”. Although they did not specify the precise reason for their decisions, their announcements followed the circulation of the video featuring Mbappé’s comments about Mao.Mbappé has appeared in campaigns for products ranging from electrolyte drinks to milk and cheese. One Dongpeng advertisement featured him delivering a slogan in Chinese, while a Mengniu commercial showed him alongside Argentine football star Lionel Messi.Chinese social media platform RedNote also joined the criticism. It said its content partnership with Mbappé had ended on December 31, 2024, and announced that it would remove related promotional material. The platform expressed opposition to “any conduct that hurts national sentiment”.Mbappé’s RedNote account was also banned from accepting new followers on Tuesday.On Weibo, hashtags relating to Dongpeng ending its partnership with the footballer and several brands cutting ties with him topped the trending list. Calls to boycott Mbappé also gained traction, with some users criticising his remarks and telling him not to visit China.
A wider pattern of commercial fallout in China
The controversy is the latest example of the repercussions foreign public figures and organisations can face in China over remarks perceived as offensive to the country.In 2019, Chinese state television stopped broadcasting NBA games after Daryl Morey, then general manager of the Houston Rockets, tweeted in support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong.The latest episode has similarly drawn in commercial partners, sports administrators and broadcasters, with La Liga attempting to contain the damage to its relationship with Chinese audiences.While Mbappé has apologised and the Spanish league has distanced itself from his comments, the incident has highlighted how a remark made in the context of an online football meme can escalate into a dispute with consequences for broadcasting and commercial partnerships.
